Sculpin India Pale Ale - Ballast Point Brewing Company

Sculpin India Pale AleSculpin India Pale Ale

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BA SCORE
98
world-class
-
4,337 Ratings
THE BROS
100
world-class
-
read more »
rAvg: 4.43
pDev: 9.71%
Reviews: 1648
Hads: 2689

Ratings Help


Brewed by:
Ballast Point Brewing Company visit their website
California, United States

Style | ABV
American IPA |  7.00% ABV

Availability: Year-round. bottle (1391), on-tap (188), growler (39), cask (25), can (3), nitro-bottle (1), nitro-tap (1)

Notes:
Originally named Northstar IPA. Debuted in 2005.
View:  Beers  (75) |  Reviews  (40) |  Events  (0)

Reviews

Sort by:  Latest | High | Low | Top Reviewers | Read the Alström Bros Beer Reviews and Beer Ratings of Sculpin India Pale Ale Alström Bros  | Show Hads:
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Photo of danfouts14
danfouts14


5/5  rDev +12.9%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Literally the best IPA on the planet. If you're lucky enough to make it to the brewery when they have their special Habanero brew, you're in for a treat. Sculpin IPA infused with with the spice of Habenero peppers...you'll have to taste it to understand. Very spicy, but the spice and the bitterness of the IPA blend perfectly.

Serving type: growler

02-17-2013 03:53:29 | More by danfouts14
Photo of JamesShoemaker
JamesShoemaker

New York

4.38/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.75 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Grolwer poured into my snifter.

A - very light, almost pilsner-yellow out of the bottle, but it settles orange and amber. Not much head on the forced pour, but that's not terribly surprising, given the low ABV. I love beers that deceive with their pale color.

S - delicious. The hops are so sweet and citrusy on the nose, but you'd never expect the force of them from such a modest looking beer. The body is so odorous in fact that it almost smells like a simple syrup.

T - pretty good, but not nearly as complex. Some nice biting citrus right on the front that recedes quickly into sweetness. Very prominent grapefruit.

M - also good. Sculpin is a little too carbonated for my taste, but it fades after an initial bite into a sweet, mellow cling. Bitterness at first, but your mouth is left with sweet, sticky (but not syrupy) hops. Very tasty.

O - my second Ballast Point beer (first is VaS) to land in my top twenty all time. Very fine example of a single IPA. Could easily get a sixer and sip throughout the day.

EDIT 2/27/13: I purchased a growler fill of Sculpin at a local bottle shop; I'm giving the mouthfeel and the taste an additional .25 in the new format. Blew me away.

Serving type: growler

02-09-2013 01:11:48 | More by JamesShoemaker
Photo of bambam2517
bambam2517

Arizona

4.25/5  rDev -4.1%
look: 4.75 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.25

From the growler (filled a day prior) to a pint glass, served at 42F.

A - Amber body with some tight, lasting carbonation and even with a conservative pour blows up into a creamy, golden foam that really sticks around. Off to a great start, among my best in terms of appearance.

S - Grapefruit dominates! Pineapple and orange are present, and a background of resinous pine hops. I like this, but it is not so otherworldly as I'd heard. O'dell Myrcenary is a favorite of mine, and it has a similar profile with more complexity. So this one's great, but I can't justify throwing out a truly standout rating again.

T - Really nice, the grapefruit is the star and the other flavors marry in nicely. Its fresh and citrusy like a hefe or wit, but it adds a bitter hoppy punch that you can't find in the wheat beers. Tasted the same from first sip to last, nothing more developed but I think theres something positive to be said for that character too. You know what you're going to be getting and know its going to be excellent.

M - Great when quaffed, feels frothy and wet in the mouth and dries up nicely as it goes down. Just a tinge too bitter on the finish for my taste though, wears down the palate over the course of a pint. Next time, 12oz. in a pils or flute glass, really accentuate that appearance and not so much that it overwhelms.

O - An excellent beer, i think its ratings are inflated a bit but I am satisfied enough to say its in the ballpark with my "tops".

Serving type: growler

01-28-2013 17:32:12 | More by bambam2517
Photo of topfloor
topfloor

Arizona

4.48/5  rDev +1.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I tried a sample of this on a whim and quickly decided to take a growler home to indulge in.

The head and color expose some of the secrets of this ale. The one inch head is off white with some larger bubbles scattered throughout followed by the butterscotch color of the brew.

The smell is complex. Each pass was different. The first being floral. The second being piney and citrusy with a slight alcohol nose.

At first this ale tastes like it may be malty and competetive but the hops quickly kick with pine and grapefruit. It tastes like the malt may have been added late leaving just the hint of sweetness and none of the heavy malt taste. The alcohol is definately present upon swallowing and the hops are noisy and not in a hurry.

The mouth I rated least as it feels a bit heavy and wet much like an East Coast IPA but soon gives way to the joy of a well balanced brew. Carbonation is medium and just about right.

This IPA is on the verge of an Imperial but oh-so-fun to drink. It's complexity, rawness, and yeastiness reminds me of a smoother finishing Pliny the Elder. Not quite as dry as Stone and very well balanced.

Serving type: growler

01-01-2013 04:49:46 | More by topfloor
Photo of Kendo
Kendo

New York

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A: Poured from the growler into a Duvel tulip. Bosy is clear orangey-amber that appears more golden in color when backlit. Small head of white that leaves good splotchy lace with each sip.

S: Hops. Citrusy -- grapefruit and oranges - and plenty of apricot. Touch of pine in the background.

T: Honeyish sweet malt up front is followed by apricot. Also hop bitterness (lemony) and oranges, with a touch of grapefruit and tropical fruit salad. Hint of spice too.

M: Slight slickness or oily feel to it that I don't recall from having it on tap or from the bottle. Call it medium in heft, maybe a touch heavier.

D: Good stuff.

Serving type: growler

10-27-2012 02:04:46 | More by Kendo
Photo of NiceTaps
NiceTaps

New Jersey

4.45/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

I was lucky to find this at the local growler station. I poured it into a fine tulip glass.

A- great looking copper-orange color with remarkable clarity for the style. Mild carbonation, 1.5 finger head with some lacing.
As a compliment, it looks 'light'.

S-a citrus nose, not overpowering. The notes are lemon and peach, milder citrus aromas to me compaerd to grapefruit. A lively nose with a touch of alcohol.

T-Now the citrus flavors come on strong with a touch of pine and malt sweetness. Very flavorful.

M- it's light for the style but I rate it a 4.0 because the IBU is spot on. Not much carbonation-but it is a growler so...

O-I was looking forward to this and it came through. It represents the American IPA style nicely.

Serving type: growler

06-01-2012 23:19:04 | More by NiceTaps
Photo of Durge
Durge

Connecticut

4.08/5  rDev -7.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A light yellow copper color with a sturdy white head and fantastic lacing. The aroma offers a floral sweetness and mild citrus hop. Very pleasant but not powerful. The first swallow gets tasty grainy bread with a polite lemon overtone. Almost a rye quality, grassy too. A medium bodied brew with lightly viscous, yet peppery feel. I consider it to have light but full carbonation as well. Highly drinkable and understandably popular!

Serving type: growler

04-08-2012 03:08:33 | More by Durge
Photo of chinchill
chinchill

South Carolina

4.38/5  rDev -1.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Pours an orange-amber with a very slight haze and a smallish off-white head.

Exceptionally fruity aroma, featuring oranges and other citrus fruits. Some caramel here too. In fact, the aroma seems markedly sweet. Still, this much hop aroma can indicate a rather bitter brew; such is not the case here. The flavor is actually rather tame for style since there's plenty of sweet malt to partially counter the hop bitterness. No question, however, that this leans to the bitter side, as it should, and eventually one is left with an aftertaste consisting of hoppy, grapefruit bitterness. The premier feature of this IPA, however, is the powerfully fruity aroma and flavor. This actually tastes like it was somehow made with a citrus punch featuring tangerines. [Citra hops?]

M: very smooth; medium body; light harshness/bite from 7% ABV which is otherwise not evident in tasting.

O: an outstanding IPA for those who, like me, are particularly fond of a citrusy IPA.

Serving type: growler

02-26-2012 20:31:15 | More by chinchill
Photo of jamex
jamex

California

1.93/5  rDev -56.4%
look: 3 | smell: 2.5 | taste: 1.5 | feel: 2 | overall: 2

I used to really love Sculpin. I would periodically stop by the Scripps Ranch brewery and fill up a growler at least once a month. Many times I'd stop by the brewery just to get a pint. Life was good, and I was excited to have such a world class brew within a few minutes of my house.

Then something changed. I'm not sure what - the hops, the blending, whatever - I'm not a brewer so I can't explain it. I'd say it happened about a year ago. The aroma changed. The taste drastically changed. It just wasn't the beer I fell in love with. Tropical notes all but vanished. The bitterness was heightened. The fresh piney hints turned sour and "urinal-like."

Maybe my tastes have changed. I guess it's possible. Maybe I need to visit the Home Brew Mart location for a final test since all of this ranting is based from multiple, different growlers and pints at the Scripps tasting bar. But each pint and growler fill pushes me away. Last night I did the unthinkable: drain poured a 1/2 growler of this mess.

If there really is an alternate recipe, please BP go back to your roots. Let me once again give this golden drink the score it deserves.

Serving type: growler

01-31-2012 20:30:13 | More by jamex
Photo of Cisco619
Cisco619

California

3.63/5  rDev -18.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

64 oz growler poured into Duvel tuip several times. This is a staple in my fridge, I felt it was time to review it.

A: Golden amber that has a lingering, stark white head. The head dissipates to a filmy cap that covers the top of the brew. Clear & paints my palm golden honey hue akin to a San Diego summer sunset. California in a glass.

S: Slight mango scent greets the nose that is tempered with an orange zest. A slight sweetness follows that ends in a dank hop aroma. Quite the balance of the hops is achieved, creating an intoxicating blend that draws you in.

T: Dank hops with a citrus zest. The hop bitterness is slight & lingers after sip is long gone. Not as powerful as the aroma, but quite pleasing.

M: Medium mouthfeel with a hop stickyness that lingers. Nice carbonation that tingles the tongue slightly, letting the hops do their thing.

O: Great brew that never fails to please. Nothing better on a hot Cali night like tonight.

Serving type: growler

10-14-2011 06:23:41 | More by Cisco619
Photo of Tucquan
Tucquan

Pennsylvania

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

A - Clear amber-orange with a 2-finger off-white head with mild to moderate lacing.

S - Pineaplle, passion and mango fruits, mild citrus, pine and hop floral. Very aromatic in this fresh growler.

T - Pale malt, pineapple, mango, pine, orange rind. I like the way the bitterness is dispersed through all stages of tasting. The fairly-bright, semi-sweet citrus and pale malt flavor extends into the aftertaste but is never one-up on the orange peel bitterness.

M - Light to medium body and medium-high carbonation. Crispy-creamy and resinous.

D - I never grow tired of this delicious brew.

Serving type: growler

09-06-2011 21:58:28 | More by Tucquan
Photo of saintwarrick
saintwarrick

South Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Couple half growlers of this confirm it as probably the best beer I have had. Orange-ish gold color has a frothy white head, leaving white lacing down the entire glass. Not quite as aromatic as the bottled version. Taste does not suffer. Lip-smacking citrusy hops and a perfectly-balanced body hold this brew down. Taste is smooth and bitter. A rare treat on tap or in any version. Fantastic brew that everyone must have.

Serving type: growler

05-31-2011 06:06:41 | More by saintwarrick
Photo of gatorbreath
gatorbreath

Fiji

4.2/5  rDev -5.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Impressed with this offering in every capacity except East Coast availability.

App - Decent, orange, copper slick look with a foamy head to settle after a good while.

Smell - Lots of citrusy floral notes, very little malt i detect.

Taste/MF - Slick, not sharp, smooth and very full of flavor. Lots of floral hoppy notes with citrus to balance. Very well-balanced, indeed.

Overall - I enjoyed this beer from a growler fill for the first time, ventured to find some bombers and enjoyed them as well. I cant wait to hopefully get closer and try the freshest of offerings from ballast point.

On up there with my favorite IPAs.

Roots to Ballast Point on this offering.

Serving type: growler

05-28-2011 19:04:17 | More by gatorbreath
Photo of MacQ32
MacQ32

South Carolina

4.88/5  rDev +10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Courtesy of the Charleston Beer Exchange

A- Poured golden orange into my tulip glass ~1inch off white head. A fair amount of lacing left behind on the glass. Ok retention

S- Hoppy with a bit of sweetness. Piney hops are very distinct, citrusy aromas are present as well. Smells awesome

T- Quite bitter, delicious combination of mostly pine but also citrus (mangos, grapefruit, etc) hops. Both very bitter and sweet

M- Medium bodied or less - good carbonation

O- Top 5 favorite IPA here, bitter citrusy and piney. The dry refreshing bitterness stands out most to me

Serving type: growler

05-22-2011 21:27:47 | More by MacQ32
Photo of DoubleSimcoe
DoubleSimcoe

New York

3.98/5  rDev -10.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4

Ballast Point Sculpin, growler filled at The Pony Bar in Hell's Kitchen, NYC, $19 (plus tip).

Appearance: Served in my Sierra snifter, pours very carbonated and free-flowing, no effort whatsoever. At least two fingers of extremely white head- reminds me of the crown of a Belgian brew. Great retention and lacing. Color is a very light amber, sort of clear honey.

Smell: Floral aromas that remind me of bees pollinating freshly-bloomed flowers. Beautiful sweetness, apple cake, some coconut. Fruity bitterness, pomelo zest, some candied orange.

Taste: Follows nose, but less intense. Some honey-like sweetness, pollen feel, a bit of sour apple at the end. Reminds me of the open fields outside Columbus, Ohio, in late summer. Subtle or disappointing? Maybe both? A tad of spice and yeast, as if Ommegang had gone West Coast IPA in Cooperstown.

Mouthfeel: Undeniably a lightweight (more so considering the super-high expectations). Medium-low body, a tad watery, that feels "diluted" in the mouth. Unlike in the initial pour, carbonation is less than stellar during the taste. Very refreshing and sessionable, though. Sweet, tingly finish.

Overall: In the all drinkability, this would get a "5" and beyond. You could drink this all day and night without getting toasted. There is no stickiness or chewiness here, as in other California IPA's. No overwhelming hops or bitterness. Whether that is a good or bad thing, it is up to you. I find it a little tame and not totally satisfying, kind of like a coitus interruptus (hence my "4" overall), but I sure do appreciate the incredible drinkability.

This is the second growler I've had of Sculpin. The first one I got at Fat Head's in Pittsburgh and I liked it better. Next time I want to try Sculpin out of a bomber and see how it changes. Nice beer, but its cult status within the beer world is overblown, in my opinion.

Serving type: growler

04-03-2011 01:16:48 | More by DoubleSimcoe
Photo of Nesued
Nesued

South Carolina

3.88/5  rDev -12.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Sampled from a growler obtained from the fine staff at Green's on Piney Grove Road. Part of their weekly "Rare Keg Thursday" offerings. Kudos to these fine chaps for bringing outstanding beers to Columbia (not only in bottles but also on-tap).

Appearance - Yellow/amber in color. Crystal clear. Huge head (to the tune of 2in) formed on the pour. Ample lacing developed as the head receded to a frothy white cap on this beer. Light carbonation present continuing to feed the ring.

Smell - As expected from this big IPA, awash in citrus, piney resin notes. Some apricots as well as some general nondescript sweetness to round out the aromas.

Taste - In a word, "refreshing". Crisp opening filled with a big (not huge) hop-forward presentation (as expected). The middle is chewy with the citrus and hop oils causing more than one or two lip-smacking gestures as an almost natural response. The end is subtle. Not a typical hop bite closing. More of a retraction to the mean, leaving you primed for the next sip.

Mouthfeel - Light to moderate body on this beer. Having it on-tap I'm sure provides a different level of carbonation than right out of the bottle. Cleansing to the palette as only a hoppy be can do.

Overall - Well now. As not a big IPA/DIPA fan I'm having to critically look at this beer in terms of its style and enjoyablity. For that, I give it high marks. An easy drinker. Easily a fine summer beer that will refresh you after a long hot summer day. Enjoyable.

Serving type: growler

03-18-2011 00:43:52 | More by Nesued
Photo of CHickman
CHickman

New York

4.43/5  rDev 0%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 5

Pours hazy gold color with a massive 2 finger foamy off white head that faded very slowly; great spotty lacing left clinging to the glass.

Smells of citrus hops, grapefruit, orange peel, lemon, floral hops, flowers, light caramel, coriander, sweet malt, biscuit, hay, grass and light yeast; very fruity and hoppy with soft subtle hints of citrus and sweet malt.

Tastes like it smells with citrus hops, piney hops, grapefruit, orange peel, lemon, grapes, floral hops, flowers, light caramel, coriander, sweet malt, biscuit, hay, grass, pepper, light spices and light yeast; really nice hop and spice combo, with great balance, and a real nice malt and crisp citrus flavor. The sweetness is mild and yet has pronounced citrus flavors, really highlighting the grapefruit. Really mellow and enjoyable overall.

Mouthfeel is creamy, oily slick and smooth, with little to no carbonation, a medium body and a slight bitter finish.

This is a highly drinkable beer with no sign of the alcohol, and a crisp refreshing feel that lets the brew flow down with ease. A definite session beer that I enjoyed and will seek out again.

Serving type: growler

02-13-2011 21:44:21 | More by CHickman
Photo of welldigger888
welldigger888

South Carolina

4.97/5  rDev +12.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Poured from growler in to an imp. pint glass, Huge 2 finger rocky snow white head that laced all the way down. Slight hazed golden orange hue.
Tropical fruit grapefruit mango and the like.
Like drinking a grapefruit cream soda with mango and light golden biscuit.
Creamy dreamy!
Pour some more, send us more! These folk hit on an outstanding reciepe!

Serving type: growler

02-07-2011 04:31:21 | More by welldigger888
Photo of aasher
aasher

Indiana

4.58/5  rDev +3.4%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This growler was courtesy of thagr81us (thanks Calton!), who sent it to me for my birthday despit the package I sent him being destroyed by FedEx. The growler "popped" when I unscrewed the lid, unleashing a multitude of in your face bitter and hoppy aromas. This was poured into a Goose Island pint glass. It poured a rich and beautiful gold in color with a two finger, whispy off white head that laced the glass. The aromas are very wet, bitter, and full of pine. It features very citrusy and sweet hops. There is so much going on here for an IPA! I love the variation. The taste of is of pine and honey. I'd say that this is somwhere in between Hopslam and 90 Minute. It's excellent and a must try. It drinks very crisp and has excellent carbonation. It doesn't leave you with cotton mouth like many IPAs and actually leaves your mouth watering for more. This beer is superb! Thanks for the birthday growler Calton!

Serving type: growler

01-31-2011 23:49:23 | More by aasher
Photo of Huhzubendah
Huhzubendah

District of Columbia

4.5/5  rDev +1.6%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Thanks to Paul (Lunch) for sharing this growler.

A: Mostly clear and light yellow in color with a thick, white head and an ample amount of sticky lacing.

S: Great fresh hop and tart citrus aromas. Simply wonderful.

T: Absolutely awesome flavor. Grapefruit presence is very prominent. Tangy and hop forward, this beer is incredibly smooth and bursting with flavor.

M: Medium / thin in body, the feel is smooth and creamy with just the right amount of carbonation.

D: I could drink this all night. One of the best IPAs I have ever had.

Edit:
I have had a few experiences with this beer where the aste was phenomenal. however, Sculpin is inconsistent, whether from the tap or the bottle. Too many decent to mediocre experiences to sustain the soaring high score I gave it initially.

Serving type: growler

01-30-2011 01:13:01 | More by Huhzubendah
Photo of pmlondrigan
pmlondrigan

New York

4.33/5  rDev -2.3%
look: 4 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Great honey golden orange color. Puffy dense white head, noticable lacing that slides down the sides of my tulip glass. The aroma is a blend of strong citrusy hops, grapefruit, pinapple and fresh cut grass. Really fresh, real nice. A hop explosion, grapefruit, citrus, tropical fruits and grassy undertones. Simple clean grain flavor. Long lasting lemon citrus bitter finish. Nice mouthfeel, not watery, not thin. And oh so drinkable.
NB. I do believe I personally prefer this to Pliny, that may be however due to how fresh this is.

Serving type: growler

12-23-2010 02:00:25 | More by pmlondrigan
Photo of kinged8th
kinged8th

South Carolina

4.45/5  rDev +0.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Picked up a growler of this from my local shop. Was really impressed with it. Great appearance! Pours a hazy golden color with a nice head that left a decent lace. Mouthfeel of citrus and pine. Excellent hop presence which is what I like. I would like the mouthfeel to be a little more heavy. Overall, believe all the hype behind this beer. Though it is over priced, its well worth it. Too bad its not readily available round here.

Serving type: growler

11-28-2010 01:17:38 | More by kinged8th
Photo of beermanbrian
beermanbrian

Pennsylvania

4.7/5  rDev +6.1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Fresh growler from Brass Rail.

Golden color with a big creamy soap bubble head. Head sticks to the glass like glue and does not go away. Color is a little lighter than expected but there is nothing wrong with that.

Smell is a blast of citrus and pipe. Slips into grapefruit range, which is my favorite flavor in an IPA. Smell has me looking forward to that first sip.

First taste doesn't disappoint. Citrus up front and then it slips into oily pine. Very good.

This is one of those few beers that's been able to live up expectations lately. This one didn't let me down and has me looking forward to the full growler.

Serving type: growler

11-06-2010 20:15:11 | More by beermanbrian
Photo of jeffthecheff
jeffthecheff

Connecticut

4.22/5  rDev -4.7%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Half growler purchased fresh from Decicco's. Pours into a tulip glass with a billowing, thick white head of foam atop a hazy, amber-gold color. Great lacing and at least a finger of retention.

Aroma is pungent, citrusy hops. There is so much citrus going on here, it reminds me of a wheat beer brewed with citrus zest. Strong grapefruit aromas are at the forefront, with a bit of mango and tropical fruitiness. There is only a slight herbal hop bite in the back. I usually wouldn't give a perfect aroma score to a hoppy beer without much of an herbal balance, but the strong, complex fruitiness deserves a 5.

The flavor is simple, with a dry, bitter tone dominating the brew. Malt profile adds nothing behind all these hops. Bitterness is very strong, with a somewhat harsh profile. Hops bring some grapefruit peel, grass, and leaves. Not as much fruitiness is represented as the nose does. I think the fruity hop profile could have given this more depth, but it's hard to please the palate after the aroma is so great.

Serving type: growler

10-10-2010 17:57:28 | More by jeffthecheff
Photo of Ryan011235
Ryan011235

Ohio

4.93/5  rDev +11.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Poured into a snifter on 9/4/10

Much appreciation to PDXHops for the fresh Sculpin hookup

Bright, with extreme clarity, Sculpin is apricot/amber in color. This is a sharp looking beer. Pours one finger of foam that dissipates after several minutes. A bubbly skim & sporadic, droopy lace are left. Swirling revives some head retention. I some into a tulip; lacing was a touch better.

The aroma is simply phenomenal; it's a veritable fruit cocktail of tropical, hoppy excellence. Tangerine, peach, mango, lemon zest, apricot & hints of grapefruit. The hops are vibrant & juicy. Nips of pine here & there. Not much malt going on, just faint a toasty bread note. The aroma is more assertive than from the bottle I had earlier this year.

Sculpin boasts outrageous hop flavor, moderate bitterness & excellent dryness. Notions of pine underpin the strong citric hops; both of which work wonders together. Notes of tangerine, peach, nectarine, apricot with hints of grapefruit & lemon zest. It's a choice balance of hop flavor & bitterness; something of a controlled explosion. Malts are even less apparent that in the aroma.

The feel is pretty incredible, too. Maybe a touch lighter than medium bodied with fairly ample carbonation, especially when cold. Eschewing vigorousness, the carbonation is lively, accenting the hop flavors. An abundance of tropical tones linger on the finish.

Drinkability is superb. Out of a bottle of undetermined age, this was great. Fresh, from a growler, Sculpin is one of the finest I've tried from the IPA family. Thanks Jeff!

Serving type: growler

09-07-2010 01:27:42 | More by Ryan011235
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Sculpin India Pale Ale from Ballast Point Brewing Company
98 out of 100 based on 4,337 user ratings.